LONG READ The Fijians who lit up Scottish rugby 10,000 miles from home

For Scotland fans flocking to Murrayfield this weekend, a clash with the Flying Fijians will evoke painful memories. Scotland are one of a handful of elite opposition to play Test matches on the Fijian islands, and were well beaten on their past two visits – most recently, a 29-14 defeat only 12 months ago.

Facing Fiji will also stoke warmer recollections. For in some senses, the nations share a rich history – from the iconic ‘Weegies from Fiji’ who helped Glasgow swagger to a maiden title, to the lesser heralded names and even the coaches who have played a hand in the development of both sides.

In fact, three Fijians are firmly in the conversation for the best overseas signing in Scottish rugby history. Here, RugbyPass catalogues the Fijian influence some 10,000 miles from their archipelago homeland.

Niko Matawalu (Glasgow Warriors, 2012-15 & 2017-21)

Box-office. The sort of firebrand who sold Glasgow tickets alone and had jaws hitting the floor on a weekly basis. Nobody (including his teammates) could really predict what Matawalu was up to; at the base of a ruck, patrolling the backfield or indeed cavorting around the cobbles of Ashton Lane in the city’s West End. Across two spells at the club, his highlight reel was more of a feature-length film. Only four players have bettered his haul of 44 Warriors tries and none have provided the same entertainment in doing so.

Matawalu was raw when he rocked up in Scotland. Prone to rashness, yet hopelessly endearing. As his exposure to northern hemisphere rugby grew, he became one of the premier threats in Europe – beguiling footwork, top-end pace, offloading panache and a lethal short kicking game. His success also gave rise to some iconic TV commentary through the Gaelic vowels of BBC Alba’s Hugh-Dan MacLennan.

At scrum-half or in the back-three, Matawalu delivered an endless spree of magic, but his ultimate conjurer’s trick came against Leinster in 2018, when he dashed and slalomed past half the opposition before charitably passing to Nick Grigg at the line.

Matawalu is based in Wales with his family these days, where he coaches Caerphilly.

Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow Warriors, 2013-16 & 2020-21)

Not another lock forward in the world could match Nakarawa’s sorcery with a rugby ball. He loped around the paddock with the pill in one hand, whipping it behind the backs and over the heads of flailing tacklers like a matador toying with a bull.

Before Glasgow dismantled Munster in the 2015 Pro12 final, Gregor Townsend told Nakarawa to curb his dazzling offloads. Fifteen minutes later, Nakarawa’s brilliance had created two tries and Glasgow were surging into an unassailable lead.

 

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Nakarawa had landed in Scotland from relative obscurity and wound up making plenty of fantasy World XVs by the time he left in 2016. A truly unique, barnstorming figure, Racing 92 bought him out of his deal and chucked a zero on the end of his salary. He returned to Scotstoun in 2021 but his impact was blunted by injury. Nakarawa is still playing at 38 years old, but is looking for a new club having just left Castres.

Netani Talei (Edinburgh, 2010-13)

A game-breaking presence during an odd period for Edinburgh. His all-court style at number eight won hard yards through contact and he showcased an outrageous array of skills.

Talei was a major part of Edinburgh’s unlikely surge to a Heineken Cup semi-final in 2012, winning three player-of-the-match awards during the pool stage. His profile brilliantly complimented those of Ross Rennie and Dave Denton in a potent back-row blend.

Viliame Mata (Edinburgh, 2016-24)

Mata arrived an Olympic gold medallist in the depths of an Edinburgh winter. His wife did not know where the Scottish capital was. “Near London,” Mata had told her. Initially, the Matas wanted to go home. By the time he left eight years later, the colossal number eight was the highest paid player in Scottish rugby – a remarkable accolade for an overseas player in a two-team system. Mata was worth every penny.

At his peak, he was one of the finest eights in world rugby, routinely totting up close to 20 carries a game and an eye-watering number of post-contact metres. At 6ft 7ins and around 120kg, Mata was always going to bring ballast, but his sleight of hand is what Edinburgh fans remember most keenly. His offload to put James Johnstone under the posts in Toulon and seal a famous away win stands proud among many flourishes of skill.

An injury on duty with Bristol Bears has kept him out of this Nations Championship block.

Taqele Naiyaravoro (Glasgow Warriors, 2015-16)

The recruitment of “Big T” garnered much fanfare. Standing 6ft 5ins tall and weighing over 130kg, the mighty wing had been compared to Jonah Lomu, spent the previous year splintering Super Rugby defences with the Waratahs, and earned his first Wallabies cap, sparking speculation his move to Scotland would be scuppered.

Perhaps predictably, Naiyaravoro only fulfilled the first season of his three-year contract, activating a break clause to return to Australia and pursue further Test honours. The giant had made quite the splash on these shores, scoring nine tries in 22 games, including a monstrous hat-trick against the Scarlets.

There was widespread resignation when Naiyaravoro’s departure was announced, for his involvement with the Wallabies always made a long-term stay unlikely. There was also some lingering disappointment – what might Naiyaravoro have achieved in a Glasgow shirt with more time in  Townsend’s sophisticated attack?

Vern Cotter (Scotland, 2014-17)

The man with the ‘eyes of ice’ who restored Scotland’s credibility on the international stage. Cotter’s Murrayfield reign was short but transformative as he took long-awaited Six Nations scalps, pushed the All Blacks hard and led Scotland to the brink of a Rugby World Cup semi-final.

Cotter was appointed Fiji coach after the 2019 World Cup, and aided by long-time confidant Richie Gray, the breakdown and collision guru from Galashiels, and former Glasgow and All Blacks centre Daryl Gibson. Cotter’s stint in the job was hugely disrupted by Covid-19 and he resigned just seven months before the 2023 edition citing personal reasons.

He has since won Super Rugby Pacific with the Blues and will take on the Reds job when Les Kiss steps up to coach the Wallabies later this year. Nearly 10 years after leaving office, Cotter still commands huge respect in Scotland.

Joseva Nayacavou (Scotland Sevens, 2013-19)

Armed forces links have paved the way for many Fijians to live, work and play in the UK. Joseva ‘Jo’ Nayacavou was a focal point for Scotland Sevens across close to 50 tournaments, as the national side broke barriers and made history.

Nayacavou was part of the Scotland side who won their first HSBC SVNS title in London a decade ago, and went on to represent his adopted nation at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

“Big Jo” – all 6ft 5ins of him – melded physical steel to technical excellence. His social media handle is The Kilted Fijian and he has recently been coaching the British Army Sevens side. Fellow ex-soldier Junior Bulumakau also played for Glasgow and Scotland Sevens.

Notable mentions

Edinburgh have signed two generations of the same Fijian family, with current winger Malelili following in the footsteps of father Apolosi, an enforcer back-row who played for the club during the 2005-06 season. The younger Satala was born in Edinburgh, spent his childhood between Fiji and England, and has designs on winning a Scotland cap.

Prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa was a big contributor to Glasgow’s run to the 2015 title, while Mesulames Dolokoto and Kunavula produced memorable moments on the charge for the Warriors and Edinburgh respectively.

Nemia Kenatale arrived in Glasgow with some pedigree but was hobbled by a pre-season injury. The same cannot be said for Eroni “The Sledgehammer” Sau, who lived up to his nickname during two years at Edinburgh.

Gareth Baber coached Fiji to their second Olympic gold in 2020 and later assisted Mike Blair on the Edinburgh staff. Tim Sampson will join the club having overseen the Fijian Drua attack for the past two years.